animal companion

The special bond that humans share with both equines and canines originated thousands of years ago. Deepening our understanding of that bond can help us to become better animal guardians as well as better animal bodyworkers.

Both dogs and horses have undergone a process of domestication, although some will argue that horses have not been domesticated, but rather, simply tamed. Regardless of this distinction, the relationship that humans share with both horses and dogs is a relationship that is deeply complex, with roots extending thousands of years. In our upcoming Human-Animal Bond webinar, we will discuss this rich history, as well as the depth of the bond we share with them today.

This webinar will be presented by RMSAAM webinar instructor and digital media & marketing specialist, Emily Tronetti. Emily also owns Heal to Howl, a canine massage, Reiki and photography business that focuses on the human-canine bond. Emily is currently a graduate student in the Anthrozoology program at Canisius College. Anthrozoology is the study of the interactions between humans and nonhuman animals. Emily is excited to combine her anthrozoology education with the knowledge she gained in RMSAAM’s canine massage program in this brand new webinar!

Summer is here and every year, dogs suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car—even for “just a minute”—while they run an errand. Parked cars are deathtraps for dogs: On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in an hour. According to research on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website (www.avma.org), cracking the windows does little to nothing to keep pets cool. During these warm month, ask yourself,”Does my pet really need to come?” It can be a matter of life and death for your pet.

Something else to consider is what time of day you are interacting with your pet outdoors. Exercising with pets should be done during the cool hours of the day– early morning or later in the evening. They, just like humans, are susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Another thing to consider is how hot the surface is that you are walking on! Dogs have thick and calloused pads on their paws, but these can still easily burn. Sidewalks and asphalted roads can quickly reach extreme temperatures in the morning, and hold onto heat from the day. If you aren’t sure if the pavement is too hot, feel it! If there’s even a doubt in your mind that it’s too warm, don’t subject your pet’s paws to it.

Remember that panting is your dog’s primary method of staying cool. They also dissipate heat through the pads on their paws. Another way they stay cool is by their fur–this may seem counter-intuitive, but fur acts as insulation against the heat as well as the cold. Making sure your pets have access to shade, fans/air flow, and clean water are imperative, especially if they are outside.

When travelling with your pet, have a full water container (bottles, gallon jug, etc.) and dish/bucket for them to drink out of.

Some other things to keep in mind are:

-having unscented baby sunscreen for dogs with pale or pink skin and thin hair around their face

-having a child’s play pool (small plastic shallow type) filled with clean water for dogs to play in while supervised

-having a wet towel or cloth available for the pet to lie on outside

-using a spray bottle to mist water over your pet when out and about on warm days (if they tolerate it)

Did you know there are 45 miles of nerves in the skin of a human being?

Did you know there are 45 miles of nerves in the skin of a human being? That’s a lot of nerves! It’s no wonder that when we get stressed, our nerves are frayed, the need to yank out a hair or too is prominent (or more commonly, we lose hair here and there on our own), and our skin suffers, as well as a host of other stress-related problems that ensue.

So how does stress affect animals? Yes… animals do get stressed. Both their skin and coat suffer. Some of these triggers include: Noise, fear, sudden changes in their environment, boredom, inconsistencies in their water or food, separation anxiety, pain, and the ageing process are contributing factors.

Stress hormones are first released for example, when your animal companion is crated to go to the vet – and amazingly, they are very perceptive intuitive animals, and do know they are facing that dreaded visit! The hormones are released into the bloodstream, causing shedding for a few days. If stressors are daily, shedding becomes a bigger problem. Typically, keeping in mind different breeds and species, hair is first shed on the body and rear hips.

It’s no wonder then, that the world of Animal Massage is becoming a much bigger, better place. Here’s how massage helps your animal companion; prolonging their life-span and yours too (humans experience the same benefits through massage)!

Boost the immune system

Improve the quality and symmetry of movement

Support better joint health and function

Promote earlier detection of stressors and strains

Stimulate circulation for greater health of all tissues

Help reduce risk, severity, and frequency of injuries

Improve athletic agility and coordination

Reduce the effects of stress

Minimize restrictions caused by old scar tissue

Reduce or eliminate adhesions, knots, and other restrictions

Improve skeletal alignment for more efficient movement and posture

Release endorphins (natural pain killers)

Lower blood pressure

Improve digestion

If you’re interested in bonding, and connecting more with your furry friend, RMSAAM offers Canine Massage Correspondence Program for the enthusiast! This is a non- certificate program for animal owners / lovers! We look forward to hearing from you!

2013; equals 6… there are 6 of us sitting here. A coincidence? I think not…

by Sandi Martinez

So what does ’13 hold for you and your animal companion(s)? Perhaps let’s do something fun and take a gander at your Personal Numerology. I was curious to know what my dog’s personal year is in 2013. This is what I found; but wait – what is Numerology exactly? And is it similar to Astrology?

When looking into your Personal Numerology chart, your ‘personal’ year is the most important aspect to look at in terms of getting a fairly accurate outcome in the challenges/overall picture of your chart – arf, arf, – ah-mm, and your dog I mean!

And how do you get that number? Well in this case, my dog Samson (I count the day he adopted me as his birthday, since he was a stray) is figured by his birth month, April, the day, 6, and then we take the year 2013, which adds up to 6 (2+0+1+3: remember to add double digits as a single number – e.g. 32/5), finally we add: 4+6+6=7; his personal year is a 7. More often than not, your pet(s) will not have an actual recorded birthdate. In that case, the letters of your dog’s name are assigned numbers.

Samson will appear to be on sabbatical. His intuition will be heightened, and reason/logic will cease to exist. He will have the opportunity to connect to his soul, and do much soul-searching as a result. He will also appear to need more sleep than usual! He may pull away from his loving human (me), and I shouldn’t take that personally… he may have more quizzical looks on his face, as he will tend to take more to philosophical discoveries. It will be a bit like cleaning his inner house (goodness knows webs abound!). He may even be able to take some time off from work for a while, thus the sabbatical. Faith indeed will be something that he will have to find the strength to latch on to, as inner development continues to be the main focus for 2013. Very serious stuff! Ruff, ruff!

Astrology may be considered a science; it traces planets’ placements based on birth dates; specifically month, day, year, and time of birth, which has certain effects and influences in a person’s life cycle. It’s all very complicated, and if you know the exact time of the birth of your animal friend, then by all means, a natal chart might reveal much about your pet! Numerology uses the addition of your pet’s name, with assigned numbers, or the exact birth date (if available), and all the different combinations one can apply to arrive at certain predictions, personality profiles, as well as soul revelations. Both of these forms of study, serve as a ‘peek’ into the cosmos, and perhaps unlock mysteries to events in advance… I’m anxious to find out from Samson what mysteries he’ll unlock in 2013!)

What does 2013 hold for you and your pet? And is it luck, fate, or destiny that decides what you do, or don’t do this brand new year?

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RMSAAM Mission

To promote and enhance the well-being of animals around the world through responsible and comprehensive educational programming, classes and certificate programs.

About Us

Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage offers a wide range of courses in animal massage, acupressure, reiki, essential oils, animal communication and more. We are proud of our offerings and our legacy. Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure Massage has three campuses: Elizabeth, Colorado, Longmont, Colorado, and Fort Myers, Florida. All campuses are inspirational settings for learning the art of massage and acupressure for animals. Bring your dog or work on one of ours, practice on one of our friendly horses and make new friends.

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